hyena

noun

hy·​e·​na hī-ˈē-nə How to pronounce hyena (audio)
plural hyenas also hyena
: any of several large strong nocturnal carnivorous Old World mammals (family Hyaenidae) that usually feed as scavengers
hyenic
hī-ˈē-nik How to pronounce hyena (audio)
-ˈe-nik
adjective

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There are three species of hyena— doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa. Actually more closely related to cats than to dogs, hyenas have coarse fur, four toes on each foot, long forelegs, claws that do not retract, and enormously strong jaws and teeth. They live alone or in packs and may be active by night or day. Hyenas are noted for scavenging but will also attack live prey. The spotted, or laughing, hyena, whose calls alternately resemble wailing and maniacal laughter, ranges through much of sub-Saharan Africa. Yellowish or grayish with dark spots, it is about 6½ ft (1.8 m) long, including the 12-in (30-cm) tail, and weighs up to 175 lb (80 kg). The hyena has been known to attack people and even to carry off young children.

Examples of hyena in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After a shipwreck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a 16-year-old boy survives on a lifeboat with four companions — a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Mounting anecdotal evidence from countries like Mexico, where veterinarians can legally administer the plant or its compounds, suggests benefits across a variety of other conditions in species as varied as parrots, turtles and hyenas. Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 The researchers also concluded that hibernating cave bears and denning hyenas primarily used the cave, which had only periodic human presence. Katie Hunt, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024 Lion cubs can become prey for hyenas or leopards, but frequently, their biggest threat comes from adult male lions looking to take over a pride. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 Lion cubs are vulnerable to other predators such as leopards and hyenas, but often the main threat is from invading male lions. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 This was true for 95 percent of the animal species observed, including giraffes, leopards, hyenas, zebras, kudu, warthogs, impalas and rhinos. Daniel Lingenhöhl, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2023 But the desert is for creatures more elusive still: wild dogs, cheetahs, aardvarks, brown hyenas, porcupine, and pangolins. Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2023 Giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and hyenas have gestational adaptations that could help pregnant people, and studying heart disease and breast cancer across species could identify novel treatments. Laura Helmuth, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hyena.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hyane, hyene, borrowed from Anglo-French hyene, borrowed from Latin hyaena "striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)," borrowed from Greek hýaina, from hy-, hŷs "swine (of either gender, wild or domesticated)" + -aina, noun suffix — more at sow entry 1

Note: The allusion in the name, which could be taken to mean "female swine," is presumably from the animal's supposed resemblance to a hog. For the value of the suffix -aina, see note at baleen.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyena was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hyena

Cite this Entry

“Hyena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyena. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hyena

noun
hy·​e·​na hī-ˈē-nə How to pronounce hyena (audio)
: any of several large strong Old World mammals that eat flesh and are active at night
Etymology

Middle English hyene "hyena," from Latin hyaena (same meaning), from Greek hyaina (same meaning), from hys "hog, pig"

Word Origin
Many pigs have manes of stiff hair that extend down their necks. When the ancient Greeks first saw hyenas, they thought the animals' manes looked like the manes of pigs. They called these strange animals hyaina, which comes from the Greek word hys, meaning "hog, pig." Hyaena is the Latin form, which was borrowed into English and spelled hyena.

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